National parks Severné Slovensko

Národný park Malá Fatra is located in northern Slovakia in the Žilina Region, within the districts of Žilina and Dolný Kubín. The Malá Fatra mountain range is the fourth largest mountain range in Slovakia, and its peaks boast a high number of visiting tourists. This national park is a sought-after destination for winter skiing and summer walks through wonderful nature.

Malá Fatra was declared a national park quite late. Due to the impact of human encroachment, this area was designated a protected landscape area in 1967. It was not until 1988 that Malá Fatra qualified as a national park. Its administration is today located in the village of Varín, which is also the gateway to the park.

Malá Fatra consists of two parts: the Kriváň part and the Lúčky part (Krivánska Fatra and Lúčanská Fatra). Krivánska Fatra extends north of the Váh River. The highest peak and at the same time the highest peak of the entire Malá Fatra range is Veľký Kriváň, which sits at an altitude of 1,709 m above sea level. No less important peaks are Veľký Rozsutec (1,610 m above sea level) and Malý Kriváň (1,671 m above sea level). The Veľký Rozsutec peak itself is depicted on the emblem of Národný park Malá Fatra.

An ideal hike for both children and seniors

Many a hiker can boast of ascending the third highest peak of Malá Fatra, Chleb (1,646 m above sea level). It is part of the ridge hike of Krivánska Fatra and is easily accessible not only for hikers, but also for families with children or seniors, as they can reach it by cable car. The chairlift starts in Vrátna dolina and takes you from Snilovské sedlo up to the Chleb mountain. From there, you can admire views of Malá Fatra in all its beauty. The Vrátna Free Time Zone resort is an ideal place for skiing as well as adrenaline sports such as paragliding.

Another popular trip in Národný park Malá Fatra is Chata pod Chlebom (1,423 m above sea level). The mountain hut is accessible from the cable car in Vrátna dolina or along the marked hiking trail from the village of Šútovo. On the way to the hut, you can admire the 38-meter-high Šútovský vodopád waterfall or Mojžišove pramene, which spring from the rock wall of Krivánska Malá Fatra.

The second part of the national park, Lúčanská Fatra, lies on the southern side of Malá Fatra. This part is lower and less forested. In summer, hikers usually go on hikes from Fačkovské sedlo, from where they can reach the rocky peak Kľak (1,352 m above sea level). Here beneath it lies the beautiful 30-meter-high Kľacký vodopád waterfall. In winter, skiers will come into their own at the popular ski resort Martinské hole, near the town of Martin.

Malá Fatra will charm you not only with its diverse flora, where forests alternate with dwarf pine and primeval forest, but also with its fauna. Wolves, lynxes, and wildcats live here. A large population of the brown bear has also been confirmed. Be cautious during your walks, as you may come across a viper, grass snake, or fire salamander. Birds thrive here just as well. An attentive eye will spot a golden eagle or a falcon, and if you prick up your ears, you will hear a woodpecker tapping. In Národný park Malá Fatra, there are up to 29 animal species of European importance.

In the footsteps of Jánošík

The tourist center of Národný park Malá Fatra is Terchová. This picturesque village is known primarily thanks to the highwayman Juraj Jánošík. Here you will also find a system of gorges and canyons called Jánošíkove diery, which attract tourists from far and wide. Another visited village in Malá Fatra is the village of Zázrivá. Who wouldn't know Zázrivá korbáčiky? After all, local people have been making cheese since time immemorial. And we guarantee you that bryndzové halušky tastes different here too.

Malá Fatra is a wonderful place to spend a holiday. Whether you are looking for a relaxing stay or an active holiday where you plan to clock up honest kilometers across the national park, you are in the right place. This national park is perfect for hiking as well as skiing. Book your accommodation near Národný park Malá Fatra today. Choose from our offer. We have family guesthouses, comfortable hotels, modern apartments, cozy cottages, and wooden cabins in Malá Fatra for you. Your holiday can begin.

Národný park Nízke Tatry, abbreviated as NAPANT, is the largest Slovak national park. It lies in the territory of central Slovakia, extending into three regions - Banská Bystrica, Žilina, and Prešov. The Nízke Tatry are separated by the valleys of the Váh and Hron rivers. Both of these rivers rise beneath Kráľova hoľa, as do the Hnilec and Hornád. The buffer zone of the national park covers the entire Nízke Tatry mountain range. The park currently has an area of 728 km² and a buffer zone of 1,102 km², but upon its establishment in 1978, it covered an area of up to 811 km² with a buffer zone of 1,240 km².

The Nízke Tatry are a unified whole from a geomorphological perspective. However, in terms of geological structure, they are two distinct zones of the central Western Carpathians. The Ďumbier part in the west, also referred to as Ďumbierske Tatry, belongs to the core mountain ranges zone, while the Kráľova hoľa part in the east belongs to the Vepor zone. These two parts are separated by the Čertovica saddle. The highest peak of the Nízke Tatry is Ďumbier with an altitude of 2,043 m above sea level.

Home to many caves and waterfalls

The underground of the limestone-dolomite massifs conceals hundreds of caves; for example, cavers have discovered more than 170 of them in Demänovská dolina, while Jánska dolina is home to the deepest Slovak cave system named Hipmanove jaskyne. The karst area of the Nízke Tatry is, of course, the creation of underground riverbeds. Water works wonders on the surface as well, where one can admire many waterfalls, including the fourth highest in Slovakia, which is Bankovský vodopád with a height of 55 m.

In the Nízke Tatry, one must reckon with a harsh mountain climate. The average January temperature on the ridges reaches -9 °C and in July it does not climb higher than 9°C. Interestingly, the snow cover stays on Chopok for up to 130 days a year. Of the average annual precipitation (1,600 mm), the largest part falls in the form of snow.

Hiking with marmots and chamois

The vast majority of the Národný park Nízke Tatry is covered by forest, most frequently mixed forests where European beech, silver fir, Norway spruce, sycamore and mountain maple, and European ash grow. The dwarf pine zone is not widespread in this mountain range; it was largely removed by human activity. Bilberries and cowberries are most frequently found in these stands. Despite the harsh climate, or precisely because of it, the Nízke Tatry also feature interesting and valuable flora, including the Slovak pasque flower, Soldanella alpina, mountain buttercup, and edelweiss.

The diversity of habitats, the ruggedness of the terrain, as well as the inaccessibility of parts of the mountain range create conditions for a species-rich fauna. Endemic and relic species live here as well. Among the best-known animals of the Nízke Tatry is the Tatra chamois; this species did not originally live in the Nízke Tatry, but 30 individuals from the Vysoké Tatry and Belianske Tatry were artificially released here in the 1970s. In addition to chamois, red and roe deer, wild boars, wolves, lynx, and foxes are abundant here, as well as brown bears, which are the symbol of the Nízke Tatry, rare marmots, and golden eagles.

The Národný park Nízke Tatry offers visitors “great value for money”

Thanks to its area, NAPANT is characterized by a diversity that conceals something for every type of tourist. There are easy hikes for families with children or seniors to choose from. They can take a walk around Vrbické pleso or along the Jakub nad Banskou Bystricou educational trail. Conversely, more demanding hikes include ascents to Chopok, Ďumbier, or Kráľova hoľa. For those who prefer to explore the most interesting places, we recommend visiting the Demänovské jaskyne caves: Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa and Demänovská jaskyňa slobody, Jaskyňa mŕtvych netopierov, Stanišovská jaskyňa, or Záskočská jaskyňa.

If you want to spend more time in this area and are looking for accommodation near the Národný park Nízke Tatry, you can focus on five districts, Banská Bystrica, Brezno, Ružomberok, Liptovský Mikuláš, and Poprad. In each of them, you will find various types of accommodation; it is up to you whether you decide to stay in a cottage near the forest or choose an apartment in the city center where you can enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of cafes and squares while commuting to nature daily.

Tatranský národný park is the oldest of all 9 national parks in our territory. It is designated by the abbreviation TANAP. It extends across the north of Central and Eastern Slovakia, in the region of the Tatry mountains. It consists of two main subunits: Východné Tatry (comprising Vysoké Tatry with a length of 26 km and Belianske Tatry with a length of 15 km) and Západné Tatry (with a length of 37 km). It reaches into the Žilinský kraj and Prešovský kraj regions, specifically the districts of Liptovský Mikuláš, Kežmarok, Poprad, and Tvrdošín. The national park covers an area of 73,800 ha, supplemented by a protective buffer zone spanning 30,703 ha. It features a network of 600 km of hiking trails and 16 marked, maintained cycling routes. The administration of Tatranský národný park has offices in Svit and Liptovský Mikuláš.

Tatranský národný park has a complex geological structure. Its relief was once shaped by glaciers, as evidenced by their remnants in the form of attractive Tatran tarns (plesá). The Tatry as a whole are mainly composed of granite and other crystalline rocks from the Paleozoic era. The climate here is one of the coldest and rainiest in our territory. Two-thirds of the national park's protected area are covered by spruce or spruce-fir forests. The only accessible cave is Belianska jaskyňa.

History of the national park

Tatranský národný park was established on January 1, 1949. Five years after its founding, a national park was also created on the Polish side of the Tatry. Its name is identical, Tatrzański Park Narodowy, and together with it, Vysoké Tatry form a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve under the Man and the Biosphere Programme. The lowest point is at an altitude of 710 m a.s.l. Conversely, the highest point of Vysoké Tatry and the entire national park is the peak of Gerlachovský štít at an elevation of 2,655 m a.s.l. The highest point of Západné Tatry is Bystrá (2,248 m a.s.l.), while the highest in Belianske Tatry is Havran (2,152 m a.s.l.). Among other highlights, we can include Modré pleso (the highest-situated tarn, elevation 2,192 m a.s.l.) and Veľké Hincovo pleso (the largest and deepest tarn, surface area 20.08 ha, depth 53.7 m).

In the past, the most frequent visitors to this natural territory were treasure hunters, herbalists, miners, hunters, and naturally, poachers. Rumors about Vysoké Tatry circulated around the world, with the first printed mention of them dating back to 1549. From then on, other explorers gradually began discovering them, eager to explore their beauty. At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the first scientific works about Vysoké Tatry began to emerge.

In times long past, nature was everywhere. People felt that there was an abundance of it, and therefore no thought was given to protection. This only changed after the founding of the Hungarian Carpathian Society (Uhorský karpatský spolok) in the last third of the 19th century. People began to discuss various conservation associations and considered how to protect different species of Tatran flora and fauna. It was also necessary to regulate the areas where livestock grazed. The society was very active, fighting against poachers, withstanding the pressure of herders, and striving in every way to save Tatran nature. It also permitted the importation of non-native plants, such as rhododendrons originating from the Austrian Alps, and agreed to their acclimatization. The society dissolved after World War I, which caused significant damage to Tatran nature as well. The neglect of forest care, massive timber theft, a free hand for poachers, and the recklessness of herders all had a negative impact. The role of the society was partially taken over by the Club of Czechoslovak Tourists (Klub československých turistov) and the German Karpatenverein.

Fauna and flora of TANAP

Tatranský národný park contains numerous protected and rare species of plants and animals within its territory. The fauna of Tatranský národný park bears traces of the existence of extremely cold periods during the Ice Ages as well as subsequent warmer periods. Therefore, cosmopolitan, Palearctic, European, and endemic species occur here. An enormous quantity of all represented animal species can be found here. Research continuously takes place within the national park, discovering more and more species of animals. Among the rare animals living in the park, we can mention the Tatran marmot, golden eagle, Tatra chamois, or brown bear.

The flora of Tatranský národný park includes a wide array of diverse plants, ranging from submontane and thermophilic species, through forest, mountain, and moisture-loving plants, to alpine species. Various rare species can be found here that you will not find anywhere else in Slovakia or the Western Carpathians. These include, for example, the Tatra bellflower (zvonček hrubokoreňový) or Tatra poppy (mak tatranský). There are also representatives of glacial relics, remnants from the Ice Ages, such as mountain avens (dryádka osemlupienková) or glacier buttercup (iskerník ľadovcový). Rare plants also include the spring pasqueflower (poniklec jarný) or black sedge (ostrica černastá). National park staff focus primarily on protecting mountain and high-mountain plants, among the more well-known being dwarf pine stands or the beautiful edelweiss (plesnivec alpínsky).

The administration and staff of Tatranský národný park exert great effort to spread awareness among the public. In 1957, the Museum of the Tatranský Národný Park was established in Tatranská Lomnica. In the same year, a professional Mountain Rescue Service (Horská služba Tatranského národného parku) was set up. Over time, they also took the administration of the Symbolic Cemetery near Popradské pleso under their wing. Regulation of expanding built-up areas was implemented, and several hiking trails were closed or discontinued. In 1979, the "Clean Mountains" (Čisté hory) initiative was launched for the first time, aiming to cleanse the high-mountain environment of omnipresent litter.

Our generation remembers very well the devastating windstorm that swept through the Tatry region, and thus through the territory of Tatranský národný park, on November 19, 2004. Wind gusts reached devastating speeds of 230 km/h in places. The wind was classified as a hurricane, representing the largest Tatran disaster since 1936. More than 12,000 ha of forest were damaged. Subsequently, the forest stands were damaged by bark beetles. Many conservation organizations intervened on-site, preventing the clearance and removal of damaged stands. Sad statistics indicate that between 2004 and 2016, bark beetle infestations destroyed as many trees as the 2004 hurricane itself.

Tatranský národný park today

Since 1972, visitor numbers in Tatranský národný park have been regularly measured and recorded. While in the 1970s the average daily attendance was between 16,000 and 20,000 visitors per day, after a record in 1981 (26,250 visitors), the numbers began to decline significantly. A resurgence was recorded only at the end of the 1990s. Monitoring in recent years has shown that at the peak of the summer season. When people visit the mountains seeking healthy physical activity, cooling off, or enjoying well-deserved views—approximately 60,000 people move through TANAP daily. Among the most visited locations are Rysy, Kriváň, Skalnaté pleso, Štrbské pleso, Popradské pleso, as well as the area of Hrebienok and Studené doliny.

There are 14 nature reserves, 3 national natural monuments, and 27 national nature reserves within Tatranský národný park. It is difficult to list the most attractive or exceptional among them, as each of these places is unique, excels in its own way, and appeals to tourists differently. The best approach would be to explore them all. However, you do not become a true Tatran local or nature lover simply by the number of kilometers you have hiked along the trails. True transformation happens in the heart, out of conviction. It is precisely these people who help protect and flourish nature so that many future generations can discover and enjoy its beauty. Let us be considerate of nature. Let us teach our children to do the same. Let us spread awareness. Let actions speak for us, not boastful words.

So come and pay homage to the majestic Tatran nature. Book your accommodation near Tatranský národný park. There are more than enough options, as the park covers a vast area. Try choosing based on the planned trips you wish to take in the surroundings. Once you have a plan, you can visit the pages accommodation Prešovský kraj or accommodation Žilinský kraj. You will certainly find a location that fits perfectly into your travel plans.

Pieninský národný park can be found in the far north of Slovakia, east of the Vysoké Tatry mountains on the border with Poland. It is located in the districts of Stará Ľubovňa and Kežmarok in the Prešovský kraj region. This smallest Slovak national park covers an area of only 37.5 km². The Pieniny are a beautiful location and, together with the Dunajec river that flows through them, create an unmistakable natural scenery.

Creation of the smallest national park in Slovakia

Pieninský národný park had to wait a long time for its role as a national park. A lot of timber was harvested in the forests here, especially on the Polish side, and the land mostly belonged to private owners. The first historical references point to an interest in creating a protected area in Pieniny in Poland in 1921.

Delimiting the territory was heavily influenced by negotiations between former Czechoslovakia and representatives of Poland in 1925 in Zakopane. Both countries agreed on the principles of the Pieniny border park. The purchasing of land from owners and the setting of the national park's boundaries began. However, this was slowed down by the war and the country's economic situation.

In 1932, at least the Slovenská prírodná rezervácia Pieniny was declared in Červený Kláštor, and Oldřich Lacina became its first administrator. The reserve was under the administration of Štátne lesy in Liptovský Hrádok. Only after World War II did territorial plans, maps, and research into local fauna and flora begin again. In 1957, the Pieninská prírodná rezervácia Červený Kláštor was established, and in 1960, the Náučný chodník Prielom Dunajca educational trail was opened to the public, which was the very first educational trail in Slovakia.

It was not until 10 years later, in 1967, that Pieninský národný park (abbreviated as PIENAP) was established. Today, it falls under the Štátna ochrana prírody headquartered in Banská Bystrica. They say that good things come in small packages, and in this case, it holds perfectly true. Pieninský národný park, with a buffer zone area of just 22,444 hectares, earned its recognition in the end. And even though it is small, it really has a lot to offer.

Parts of Pieninský národný park and their attractions

It is divided into three parts: the western Czorsztynske Pieniny, Malé Pieniny in the eastern part, and Pieninky in the central part. The highest peak is considered to be Tri Koruny at an altitude of 982 m above sea level, whose five rocky summits really look like a royal crown. Other popular ridges among hikers are Sokolica (747 m a.s.l.), Holica (824 m a.s.l.), and Kláštorná hora (654 m a.s.l.).

There are three protected natural reserves located in Pieninský národný park. Probably the most significant is Štátna prírodná rezervácia Pieniny, Prielom Dunajca. This area is particularly attractive for its rocky sections and natural phenomena created by the Dunajec river. Many water sports fans come here for rafting. You can try white-water rafting or wooden raft rides down the Dunajec. And perhaps you will spot a black stork or glimpse an Eurasian otter swimming on the water surface.

In addition to rafting down the Dunajec, a hiking trail with educational boards leads through the gorge. The trail begins in the village of Červený Kláštor and leads all the way to the Polish spa town of Szczawnica. Along the way, you can observe Jánošíkov skok, where the Dunajec narrows and reaches a depth of up to 12 meters. You will also discover the Storočná voda spring, from which, if you drink, you will reportedly live to be 100 years old.

Another protected natural formation of the Pieniny national park is Haligovské skaly. It is a magnificent complex of limestone rocks containing holes, cavities, and caves. The most famous karst cave among them is Aksamitka, which is unfortunately closed to the public. However, you can reach Haligovské skaly via a hiking route, for example from the village of Haligovce.

The last protected reserve of Pieninský národný park is Prielom Lesníckeho potoka. The Lesnícky potok stream flows from the right side of the Dunajec and has formed steep rock walls of Kača, Bystrík, Biela skala, and Osobitá skala. You can reach this natural formation via a hiking trail from the village of Lesnica, or by boat or raft.

The Pieniny region is undoubtedly a great choice for spending an active vacation. It is an ideal place for hikers, as well as for families with children. Some hiking trails are adapted for young visitors. Furthermore, the surroundings of Pieniny offer other attractions that are well worth visiting. And we have prepared a selection of accommodation in Pieninský národný park for you. Choose from a wide range of cottages, apartments, or family guesthouses. Book today so you don't miss out on your stay in the beautiful nature of the Pieniny national park.

Národný park Veľká Fatra is the youngest Slovak national park. Territorial-wise, it belongs predominantly to the Žilinský kraj region, but it also extends into the northern part of the Banskobystrický kraj region. The national park as well as its buffer zone occupy most of the territory of the Veľká Fatra mountain range, which is part of the Outer Western Carpathians. However, the park also covers the southwestern part of the Starohorské vrchy mountains. Thanks to high precipitation and low evaporation, Národný park Veľká Fatra is an important source of drinking water, and for this reason, it has been declared a protected water management area since 1987.

Home of the capercaillie

Since 1972, the Chránená krajinná oblasť Veľká Fatra protected landscape area existed in this territory, which gained a higher level of protection when it was declared a national park on April 1, 2002. Up to 90% of the park's area is covered by beech forests and ridge pastures dating back to the period of the Wallachian colonization (15th to 17th century). Scots pine also occurs in the remaining territory, and Harmanecké údolie is the richest locality for the occurrence of the European yew in Central Europe. Veľká Fatra can also boast a rare endemic species, the Tatra cyclamen (cyklámen fatranský). It grows only in this area and in part of the Nízke Tatry. Thanks to the inaccessibility of some steep slopes, primeval forest ecosystems without human intervention are also found here. The rugged terrain and the diversity of meadows, pastures, cliffs, and valleys create conditions not only for rich flora but also for fauna. Bears, wolves, lynxes, and wildcats occur here in abundance. Highly endangered species of gallinaceous birds, the black grouse and the capercaillie, also live here.

The highest peak in the national park, at an elevation of 1,596 m above sea level, is Ostredok. Within the territory of Veľká Fatra, there are several dozen small-scale protected areas. National nature reserves include, for example, Jánošíkova kolkáreň or Rakšianske rašelinisko. Perlová jaskyňa is a national nature monument. Also interesting are the natural monuments Matejkovský kamenný prúd or Travertínové terasy Bukovinka. As a Site of Community Importance and a Special Protection Area, Veľká Fatra is included in the European network of protected areas NATURA 2000.

From skiing straight to the open-air museum in Vlkolínec

Like most Slovak national parks, Veľká Fatra boasts karst areas, mostly caves, of which there are more than 530 here. Harmanecká jaskyňa is open to the public. Visitors can take a 1,020 m long tour route here, along which they can admire limestone decorations and vast domes. The cave is also important due to the large number of hibernating bats.

One cannot speak of Veľká Fatra without mentioning one of the most significant Slovak open-air museums, the settlement of Vlkolínec. It lies beneath the peak of Sídrovo and is even inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. The settlement consists of 45 residential and farm buildings, with some still being inhabited. Also interesting are the so-called štále, or haylofts, in the surrounding area.

The Veľká Fatra mountain range offers plenty of opportunities for active leisure. In the summer, whole families will have fun in the fairytale village of Habakuky or in Donovalkovo, the capital of children. An active winter is best spent on the slopes, taken care of by ski resorts such as PARK SNOW Donovaly, Ski Park Malinô Brdo, or Snowland Valčianska dolina.

To discover at least a portion of the beauty of this region, several days are needed, so book your accommodation near the Národný park Veľká Fatra. You can look around, for example, for wooden cottages in Liptovské Revúce or chalets in Turčianske Jaseno. Quality private accommodation is offered by Staré Hory. In Donovaly, you will find almost all types of accommodation, from apartments and guesthouses to luxury hotels.